A tragic boating accident on Sunday claimed three lives as a passenger boat traveling from Port Harcourt to Bonny in Rivers State capsized.
The incident, which occurred around 5 p.m. near the ‘Yellow Platform’ close to Bonny Island, was attributed to a sudden storm that caught the boat off guard.
The vessel had departed from the Bonny/Nembe/Bille Waterfront Jetty in Port Harcourt carrying 22 passengers.
While 19 passengers were successfully rescued, the disaster claimed the lives of two adult men and a young girl.
Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed the incident, describing it as a heartbreaking occurrence.
She said, “It is very sad, but 19 passengers were rescued alive. The boat capsized at Yellow Platform in Bonny while en route from Port Harcourt. Investigations are ongoing.”
The Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Rivers Commercial District, Israel Pepple, corroborated the account, attributing the mishap to a windstorm.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Anengi Claude-Wilcox, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy.